£4,000,000 AWAITING AN OWNER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2132, 15 July 1907, Page 4

£4,000,000 AWAITING AN OWNER.

A "WELSHWOMAN'S CLAIM. For over 20 years a widow named Mrs. Mary Ann Akers Broadliurst has been seeking to establish her claim to valuable estates in Liverpool, Wales, and Calcutta, reputed to be worth £4,000,000, and she lias now returned to her home at Llangollen convinced that her long quest is about to be crowned with success.

The English and Welsh estates, says the Daily Chronicle, originally belonged to Anthony Pritchard, who died without issue, and the property reverted to his brother, John Pritchard, later to William Pritchard (a third brother), and subsequently to Mary Akers Pritchard (a sister). Slie was next-of-kin, but she could not be found, although extensively advertised for. The Calcutta property, consisting of very extensive tea plantations, and valued at over £3,"000,000 sterling, was the property of Lazarus Pritchard, who died intestate. The estate became the property of Antony Pritchard, and with the Llantvsilio Estate should have been claimed by Marv Akers Pritchard. The whole of the estates passed intr Chancery in 1803, and were leased for 99 years. This lease has just; expired, and IVlrs. Broadliurst lias now taken legal steps to recover possession of the estates. Asked by a pressman to trace her descent, Mrs. Bi’oadlxurst said she

married James Brondhurst, the oldest son of Josephi Broadliurst, who married Prances, the daughter of Wilson Pritchard and Lucy Arrowsmith, of Liverpool. Wilson Pritelmrd was the son of Mary _ Akors Pritchard, tlio lady (noxt-of-kin) advertised for. Charles llroadhurst, who is still alivo, states that ho remembers that when a boy a Birkenhead solicitor offered to help bis mother to get possession of the estate, but she could not bo persuaded to take action. The claimant says that Llantysilio Estato at one time tint into the hands of a caretaker minus Jones, whose body was twice exhumed at Llantysilio, as somcono had il dream that the will was in the collin. The will was never found. ‘ Chancery do not dispute my claim, assorted Mrs. Broadliurst. In tact thov told mo that I had tho hood and tail of it. No ono can link up nonrov to Antony Pritchard than I can, and as the property is only awaiting an ownor lam entitled to it. 1 havo boon doluged with correspondence. Horo is a lottor from a. Cardin relatiyo agreeing to mv claim, and hero is n communication from n.ll- - branch of tho family, an hotel proprietress at Talybout, Cardigan, to tho same effect.”